It had been a long break from routine - 1st the Korea holiday and then almost all the enrichment centers stopped their classes until the new year. Lil Shauna had completed all her enrichment classes homework leaving us to struggle with the little boy on phonics.
We had been trying to kick start the routine the last few nights with a lot of resistance from the boy. When it was homework time, he will instantly become very tired but all traces of tiredness will magically leave him the moment I declared that homework time is over. It reminded me so much of Superman and kryptonite. It didn't help that jiejie didn't have homework to do. To him, it is not bcos jiejie is hardworking but simply not fair.
The last few nights had been bad, I had to stand my ground while he threw a fit and cried for a good 10 to 15 mins. Fortunately, he recognised that crying wouldn't get him of the situation. He got the reading and spelling down in less than 15 mins when he finally decided that he was ready to attempt. I am secretly amazed at my tolerance.
There were some last minute “trying to get ready for school” on Sunday night. The tablets were hidden. The kids were then packed off to bed at 9.15pm bcos Lil Shauna had to wake up at unearthly 5.45am to be in time for the school bus. The pick-up time is at 6.10am and we are to be at the pick-up point 5 minutes earlier. Based on the previous experiences, the school bus does not wait even if it arrives earlier than the official pick-up time and it is absolutely Ok for the school bus to be late.
Lil Shauna must had experienced some 1st day school jitters. She couldn't sleep and asked a few times what time it was. She finally dozed off at almost 10pm. I am quite sure bedtime will be earlier thereafter. I would be tired too to have to wake up at 5.45am every morning.
We all slightly overslept on Monday morning and it was a mad rush trying to get everybody ready and out of the house in under 20 mins. Daddy Lim had to help dress Lil Shauna while I applied make-up and changed. I was tying her hair and then helping her to wear her shoes while she chewed sleepily on her bfast. We arrived at the pickup point at 6.03am. There were no other WG kids and I cannot tell if there were no other kids taking the bus or the bus had left despite us being super early. Finally, another mummy with 3 kids joined us and we waited. And waited and waited. The bus only arrived at 6.25am. It was bloody 15 mins late. I was upset. Lil Shauna could have gotten another 15 mins of snooze! How precious are another 5 – 10 mins of sleep at 5.45am in the morning! Unfortunately, there was nothing we could do about it.
The new school day also marks Lil Shauna 1st day at the student care center. I was assured that the teacher will point the kids to the center after school. Parents are allowed to pick the students from the student care at any time of the day. The official pick up time is at 6.30pm and the latest is at 7pm. The teachers will stay with the kids whose parents come after 6.30pm to 7pm. The school closes at 6.55pm and the last 5 mins will be spent waiting outside of the school compound. Not perfect but sounded like a plan.
To be sure that we are on time to pick Lil Shauna yday, I left office on time. I was early but intentionally waited until 6.30pm to see how dismissal looks like. I saw some parents picking their kids while I waited. Then at 6.30pm, I saw 2 student care teachers bringing the remaining about 10 students to the gate. Most of the parents had arrived except for a boy's parents. I was glad that I was on time for Lil Shauna, especially when it is the 1st day of her student care. The boy was then asked to sit beside the gate as they continued to wait for his parents. Then they shifted to the bus stop when the school gate closed. We were waiting for Daddy Lim to pick us at the same bus stop and he came at about the same time as the boy’s mummy. The teachers were with the boy the whole time and they were assuring but I was very surprised that the kids didn't have a proper waiting area. Being the last few to be picked up is already so sad and the pathetic waiting area just made it sadder for the kids. I made a mental note to try to pick Lil Shauna earlier if possible in the future and to feedback to the student care.
Lil Shauna was visibly tried by the time we picked her. It had been a super long day for her. I asked about her day it seemed pretty alright. She took too much time for dinner and there wasn't much time left after dinner. In the future, at least I am assured that homework had been done in the student care. Popo also said that Lil Isaac did well for the 1st school day too. He didn't drive Popo crazy before or after school. He didn't cry in school. We reminded him that he is now in K2. His teacher also rewarded him with a sweet for good behavior. I am impressed with the last point. Lol.
Lil Shauna flopped on the bed by 9pm while I was still struggling with Lil Isaac on phonics. He was reading so painfully slow, stopping at every single word and getting distracted every few words. Ouch! I tucked Lil Shauna to bed shortly after 9pm and sleep was very easy. We got to spend some one-to-one time with the little boy after jiejie went to bed. School must be super tiring for the kids bcos the boy asked to go to bed at 9.45pm too and it was equally easy to tuck him to bed.
This morning, we made a slight adjustment. There was lesser of a rush and we only left the house at 6.05am. The bus still came late at 6.25am. Arrrggghhhh! We also agreed that if we were to miss the bus on any days, we will simply drive Lil Shauna to school. School is only less than 10 mins drive away. We could actually send her everyday. It is just that Lil Shauna didn't appreciate arriving at the school so early in the morning.
We also agree that it actually makes more sense for me to take the car to work on most days. Yes, I finally agreed after being in denial for so long. I could easily drive to pick Lil Shauna and back to pick Daddy Lim. Otherwise, it was be a constant stress for Daddy Lim to leave at 6.30pm, to pick me and be on time at 7pm for Lil Shauna. Training will start officially this weekend. I will start getting used to driving. Zzzzz. I hope the week gets easier as we get used to the new routine.
Mummy Lim
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